To date, Thanh Hoa has 72 enterprises operating in large-scale livestock farming, currently implementing contract farming models that enable farmers to participate effectively in production chains and earn stable incomes. Domestic companies such as Vinamilk, TH True Milk, Dabaco, and 3F Viet have invested in integrated livestock complexes linked with processing plants, slaughterhouses, and export-oriented strategies, creating a fundamental transformation in the province’s livestock sector.

Notably, Thanh Hoa has attracted many major projects in large livestock farming. For example, Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) is operating three farms with a total herd of about 12,000 dairy cows, while TH True Milk Group is developing a large-scale farming and processing complex with a capacity of 20,000 cows. To date, 15 barns have been completed, housing nearly 8,500 cows (heifers, lactating cows, and calves). The total dairy herd of the two companies has reached over 20,000 head, making Thanh Hoa one of the northern provinces with the largest dairy farming scale.

Importantly, these enterprises not only invest in livestock farming but also establish regional raw material supply chains with farmers. TH True Milk Group currently links with farmers in Thanh Hoa to cultivate more than 300 hectares of maize as fresh feed for cattle, with plans to expand to over 3,000 hectares in former districts such as Nong Cong, Nhu Thanh, Nhu Xuan, Hoang Hoa, and Cam Thuy. The purchase price ranges from about VND 950,000 to 1,000,000 per ton. Farmers’ products are fully purchased on-site through production groups and cooperatives.

Similarly, Thong Nhat Thanh Hoa Dairy Company is linking with farmers to cultivate over 1,000 hectares of pineapple and 300 hectares of maize, supplying green feed while also creating clean agricultural products for the market. The company also implements various support policies, such as interest-free loans, stable product purchasing, and the transfer of cultivation techniques and automated irrigation systems, helping farmers produce with confidence.

A typical example of production linkage generating high economic value is the Dinh Long Agricultural Service Cooperative (Thanh Hoa Province). Currently, the cooperative has a 22-hectare maize raw material area, with all output fully purchased under contract by Thong Nhat Thanh Hoa Dairy Company.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Loat, Director of the Cooperative, said: “After deducting costs, farmers earn about VND 600,000 per sao of maize. With three crops per year, income reaches VND 30–40 million per hectare, much higher than other crops, while farmers are guaranteed stable outlets, technical support, and on-site purchasing at the fields.”

Plantation forestry for stable farmer income

Alongside large livestock farming, Thanh Hoa is making full use of its hilly and forest land to strongly develop plantation forests for pulp and paper raw materials such as acacia, bamboo, and luong bamboo. These are important supply sources for the paper and wood processing industries domestically and internationally.

According to statistics, the province currently has more than 100,000 hectares of acacia forests, accounting for about 41.46% of planted forest area. Of this, approximately 7,000 hectares are sustainably managed forests, mainly concentrated in the former districts of Thach Thanh and Cam Thuy, involving over 2,000 households.

The economic efficiency of acacia for pulp and timber production is considered quite stable. In 2025, the average income from 1 hectare of acacia after a 6-year cycle is estimated at VND 135–140 million after costs. Acacia prices are currently high, with peeled logs at about VND 1.3 million per ton and chipped acacia at over VND 1.1 million per ton. For large timber, the value is even higher: logs with a girth of 60 cm reach about VND 1.4 million per ton, while those with a girth of 70–90 cm range from VND 1.5–1.6 million per ton. As a result, many households have shifted toward growing large-timber acacia to increase value.

Mr. Pham Thanh Dong, Director of the Thach Thanh Sustainable Forest Management Cooperative (Thanh Hoa), said: “Each year, the cooperative harvests about 400 hectares, supplying more than 30,000 tons of wood chips (for pulp), mainly exported to Japan and South Korea. The market is currently facing a supply shortage, but requirements for legality and traceability of forest products are very strict. Partners clearly commit to price and quality, while we must ensure proof of the legal origin of the timber.”